Cervical spinal fusion is surgery that joins two or more of the vertebrae in your neck, Opens dialog. When these bones are joined together, it's called fusion. After the joints are fused, they can no longer move.
During the surgery, the doctor uses bone to make a "bridge" between your vertebrae, Opens dialog. This bridge may be strengthened with metal plates and screws. In most cases, the doctor uses bone from another part of your body or bone that has been donated to a bone bank. But sometimes human-made bone is used.
To do the surgery, the doctor makes a cut in either the front or the back of your neck. The cut is called an incision. It leaves a scar that fades with time.
After surgery, you will have a short hospital stay. Your neck will feel stiff or sore. You will get medicine to help with pain.
Most people can go back to work after 4 to 6 weeks. But it may take a few months to get back to your usual activities.
This surgery usually requires a short stay in the hospital. You may need to wear a brace on your neck (cervical collar) while you recover.
Cervical spinal fusion joins two or more vertebrae in the neck to make the neck more stable. It may be done:
Often spinal fusion is needed to keep the spine stable after injury, infection, or a tumor.
The research on how well surgery helps people is not clear. When symptoms such as numbness or weakness in the arm suggest that a neck problem is causing a pinched nerve (radiculopathy), surgery may help you feel better faster. Small studies show that people may have improved symptoms, like better hand function, a few months after surgery compared with those who did nonsurgical treatments, like physical therapy. But surgery may not be any better than nonsurgical treatment in the long run. footnote 1
If you have neck pain alone, with no signs of a pinched nerve, spinal fusion surgery will probably not help.footnote 2
Cervical spinal fusion can cause the part of the neck that is fused to be stiff. If two vertebrae are fused together, it doesn't reduce neck flexibility for most people. But if more vertebrae are fused, the neck may be stiff.
Surgery and the use of anesthesia involve some risk. The risks associated with this procedure vary depending on your age and overall health, diagnosis, and type of procedure used. Risks include:
Pain in a bone graft site (donor site) if bone from another place in the body is used.
Failure of the fusion, breakage of metal implants (if used), or both.
Blood clots in deep veins.
Nerve or spinal cord injury.
Graft rejection.
Infection.
Excessive bleeding.
Risks of general anesthesia.
Citations
Peolsson A, et al. (2013). Physical function outcome in cervical radiculopathy patients after physiotherapy alone compared with anterior surgery followed by physiotherapy: A prospective randomized study with a 2-year follow-up. Spine, 38(4): 300–307. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31826d2cbb. Accessed January 20, 2022.
Carragee EJ, et al. (2008). Treatment of neck pain. Injections and surgical interventions: Results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Spine, 33(4S): S153–S169.
Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Peolsson A, et al. (2013). Physical function outcome in cervical radiculopathy patients after physiotherapy alone compared with anterior surgery followed by physiotherapy: A prospective randomized study with a 2-year follow-up. Spine, 38(4): 300–307. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31826d2cbb. Accessed January 20, 2022.
Carragee EJ, et al. (2008). Treatment of neck pain. Injections and surgical interventions: Results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders. Spine, 33(4S): S153–S169.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
